Big Creek originates in northern Forsyth County, Georgia, just south of Cumming near the intersection of State Route 9 and State Route 20. The creek flows southward for approximately 26.5 miles through Forsyth and Fulton counties before emptying into the Chattahoochee River at Roswell's southern border where State Route 9 crosses the river. The waterway is also historically known as Vickery Creek, named after Sharlot Vickery, a Cherokee woman who owned land around the creek in the Roswell area.

The most notable paddling opportunity exists on the section from Grimes Bridge Road to Vickery Creek Park, offering Class I-III whitewater with one exceptional Class V+ feature. This run begins below a mandatory portage around a low-head dam and enters the dramatic Vickery Creek Gorge, where bluffs tower over both banks. The creek descends rapidly through continuous Class II whitewater for approximately one-third mile, featuring numerous eddies and surfing waves. Three significant drops punctuate this section, including one below the covered bridge and another beneath a sewer line crossing. The final third-mile descent through the gorge presents Class I-II rapids with alternating cliff faces before the creek slows for the approach to the Chattahoochee. The recommended takeout is at the Vickery Creek Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area on river right, above Riverside Drive at mile 2.6.

Paddlers should possess intermediate to advanced skills for this technical run. The undercut rocks on river left immediately below the dam present serious hazards in strong current. Another low sewer line requiring portage exists just below the Riverside Drive bridge for those continuing downstream.

The creek supports populations of largemouth bass, shoal bass, spotted bass, and bluegill, making it popular with anglers. Wildlife includes herons and geese along the banks.

Historic landmarks include the ruins of Roswell Mill, a crucial Confederate textile facility during the Civil War that produced "Roswell Gray" fabric for military uniforms. The spillway waterfall and dam that powered this mill remain visible, along with a reconstructed covered bridge and historic brick machine shop. Union forces seized the mill in July 1864, deporting approximately 400 workers—mostly women and children—to the North.

The Big Creek Greenway, a multi-use paved trail system, parallels portions of the creek with multiple access points including trailheads at Bethelview Road, Fowler Park (Carolene Way), McFarland Parkway, Union Hill Road, and Sawnee Mountain Preserve (Spot Road) in Forsyth County. The greenway extends southward into Fulton County near Alpharetta.

The creek has a documented history of flooding, particularly along the greenway sections near Mansell Road in Alpharetta. Paddlers should check water levels before attempting runs, as conditions vary significantly with rainfall.